Coffin-fastener.



GEORGE GOUGH, 0F YALE, MICHIGAN.

COFFIN-FASTENER. r

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 7,1914.

Application filed April 7, 1913. Serial No. 759,490.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnonon GoUGI-I, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yale, in the county of St. Clair, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coilin-Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to burial apparatus and has special reference to a metallic vault or outside casket designed to prevent intrusion by grave robbers or other persons after a corpse has been interred.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a simple and efficient device of this kind which will permit a casket to be placed therein and access had to such casket until such time as it is desired to close the vault or outer casket permanently when it may be locked without possibility of again unlocking the same.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and Figure 1 is a perspective view of the vault with the top open, one latch being in posit-ion to permanently lock the top when closed while the other latch is shown in position to permit the top being opened after closing. Fig. 2 is a detail cross section showing a latch in full lines in locking position and in dotted lines in idle position. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In carrying out the objects of this invention it is preferred to make the casket out of some metal such as high carbon steel which will have the power to resist the attacks of chisels and other tools in a marked degree. From this material there is constructed a body 10 in the form of an elongated box of such size as to accommodate the casket or cofiin to be placed therein. The plates of metal forming this body are securely held at all seams by rivets 11 and the body is provided with the usual handles 12 to enable the same to be conveniently carried from place to place. Attached to this body by heavy hinges 13 is a top or cover 14 which fits in a rabbet 15 wherein placed a packing 1G to render the vault water and air tight when closed. A suitable spring lock 17 is also provided so that the top will lock down when closed and can only be opened by a key, which, however, may be used at will and the top opened until it is desired to close the vault permanently.

The device used to close the vault permanently consists of two or more strong staples l8 situated within the body adjacent the upper edge thereof. These staples are firmly fixed to the body and coacting therewith are spring latches 19swiveled to the cover 1 lin such manner as to be capable of being swung up into said cover in position to clear the staples when the lid is closed, the right hand latch of Fig. 1 being shown in such position. Each of these latches is provided with a beveled nose 20 arranged to guide the latch into the staples when the latch is in the locking position indicated at the left in Fig. 1. Adjacent its nose the respective latch is provided with a shoulder 21 so positioned that it will slip under the hasp at the time when the cover is closed down fully if the latch is in looking position.

In operation as long as access is desired to the inner casket or coflin the latches are folded up into the top but when it is desired to lock the vault permanently the latches are turned outwardly at right angles to the top and the latter closed. The latches will thereupon engage the hasps and lock the cover against further opening. There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and of the character specified.

It will be obvious that many minor changes may be made in the form and construction of this invention without departing from the material principles thereof. It is not therefore desired to confine the invention to the exact form. herein shown and described, but it is wished to include all such as come properly within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

The combination with a vault comprising a body portion and a cover hinged thereto; of latches each constructed of spring metal and provided With a boss beartive position, the noses on the latches engag- 10 ing against the side of the cover to permit ing the bights of the staples.

springing of the latches to and from said 1111 testimony whereof, I afiix my signasides, pivots whereby said latches are piv ture, in the presence of two Witnesses.

oted to said sides, each of said late 1es rovided with a beveled nose facing the in ide GEORGE GOUGH' of the vault, and staples secured to the sides Witnesses:

of the body and adapted to receive said N. B. HERBERT, latches when the latter are turned to opera BEN. BRIOKER.

Gopfles 0t this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. C. 

